Maverick
Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission3316 17th Street
(between Hoff St & Mission St)
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 863-3061
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Sun 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
477 Reviews for Maverick
One of Maverick's Favorite Reviews
Two dinners and one brunch later, I have a five-star feeling about Maverick. Nothing screams five stars, but you know how the sum-of-the-parts thing works.
Brunch is more of a four-star affair, good to have in your back pocket if you need a more refined brunch spot in the mission . The oyster po' boy hit the freaking spot, as did the home fries. The benedict-addict would have given the andouille benedict a perfect score, but was disappointed the sausage overwhelmed everything else.
Both dinners have been spot-on. Maverick has the nouveau-Mission thing down pat. Comfort food as cuisine, casual-fancy vibe, servers who look like shined-up hipsters but are attentive and knowledgeable--the whole deal. It's my new go-to for nice-but-not-dressed-up.
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Wow, who knew that fried chicken could be so good. The service was good too. That's about all i can say!
One of my favorite restaurants for brunch in the Mission.
I always order the Texan Migas: Scrambled eggs, tortilla strips, tomato, roasted chilies, queso fresco, pico de gallo, avocado, and black beans with a strawberry rhubarb mimosa.
Try the duck confit hash.
It's worth every penny.
Everything is well executed and delicious.
The space is limited so you'll need to make reservations in advanced. I just hope Maverick will move to a bigger place.
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This place has been on my 'to try' list for eons. The reviews have been mouth watering, and I love the brawny name.
I had the right 'excuse' to get around to trying this place, a la a friend visiting to experience the delights of San Francisco. We were lucky we happened to phone to see if the place was open - Maverick asked if we wanted to make a reservation. The earliest one was in 1.5 hours. Perfect for us since we were in Burlingame at the time, and it gave us ample time to find parking and do a bit of window shopping.
I love the modern natural vibrant decor, and the food was delicious! My friend had the pulled pork BBQ sandwich. I had the Brunch sandwich. Both had a wonderful balance of full flavors and texture. The service was friendly and efficient.
Look forward to trying the andouille sausage benedict and mac & cheese, among other dishes sometime (so tough to choose).
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It was quite good, but not great. I'd give it 3.5 stars if possible.
The portions were small-ish. The space is the old Limon location, which is pretty small and cave-like. Service was friendly and accommodating.
Mavrick could easily make a big step up by getting better space and letting the chief show a little more creativity, which I suspect is lurking just below the surface. The menu wasn't particularly daring, but was well executed.
I thought the prices were a little high for that space, at that price point the diner can have high expectations.
For the same amount of money I'd rather eat over at Range. Similar fare, much better space, good bar, but Maverick has potential.
Maverick was one of my first Mission dinners, and will forever be remembered fondly for introducing me to the neighborhood I call home. Made it back for brunch today and definitely enjoyed it. Menu isn't too expansive, but I really liked my mexican egg dish. Minimal oil, generous portion of black beans, it wasn't too much, but I'd rather be lefting wanting a bit more than overdoing it.
Space, with it's inviting modern decor, remains superb.
They are very transparent about the $1 SF healthcare surcharge, which they had been as transparent with the $1 extra for egg whites.
All in all a nice way to start the morning, and from memory, also a good way to start the evening.
Maverick, you stand independently from the others when it comes to your fried chicken.
So crispy, and battered to ultimate perfection. I can only now fantasize about my time with you long after our brief, but memorable meeting has passed.
Everything about your restaurant has flattered me entirely. From the staff, to the service, and most of all, your food have undoubtedly convinced me to return.
I have fallen hard for you. Hook, line, and sinker.
And all it took was your fried chicken.
Damn you, Maverick.
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Went with a large group and everyone loved all that was ordered. Note: The restaurant is tiny. it's very difficult to seat a large group. Make your reservations well in advance.
Everything we ordered was perfectly flavored and cooked. The wines were amazing as were the appertif wines. The only complaint I have is that they had a wait and it was noticed they wanted to turn out table before we were done with our meal. Our tab averaged around $300 and rushing us inadvertantly was a little obnoxious.
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After working my way around the Mission for new brunch spots, I finally found my way to Maverick. It came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Texan Migas, which came with a hearty helping of black beans. Yummy, but I could have done with less beans, more eggs. Upon a second visit, I would order differently. My dining companion ordered the Eggs Benedict with Andouille sausage. I think that was the better choice (and I don't eat pork).
I would go back to Maverick for dinner before I'd return for brunch again, but it was a welcome change of pace from some of the other neighborhood brunch spots--nice without being pretentious. The space is small but delightful, so I'd suggest making reservations.
BRUNCH review. The menu looked great, so did the reviews so I had no problems w/ putting $20/person down, per their reservation/cancellation policy. Six of us met for brunch and tried different things:
Breakfast sandwich - delicious. The mimosas were good and so was coffee.
Duck hash (i ALWAYS get it, wherever I go) it was too overpowered by the mushrooms gravy on top.
Eggs Benedict, Chorizo scramble, steak sandwich - all solid but nothing to rave. Biscuit w/ Honey was good but on the cakier side, not the flaky kind.
I normally don't base a restaurant too heavily on service since staff changes and people have moods. However, the service here was bad on all angles:
1. our server was unfriendly, almost hostile. But whatever - we were there for the food.
2. place is small & so hot on this sunny SF day, i was sticky & sweaty the whole time, but whatever - maybe i over layered.
3. Then, the waitstaff guy brings out the chrizo (we ordered one) and an omelet (we didn't order one) calling it a benedict (we ordered one). When we pointed those things out, he paused and looked at us as if we were wrong or at least changing our minds and trying to screw him. A few minutes later, we got the rest of our food, with the chirzo we ordered, that had to be re-routed to the table that had ordered the omelet as well.
4. Small things but they were adding up. Finally, we get the check, and there were 2 extra mimosas, 1 extra OJ and 2 extra coffees added to the bill. You know what? That's it. And when we pointed this out to our still not friendly server acknowledged it but didn't apologize and just wanted away with the receipt.
All that was just too many wrongs in service and definitely tainted my solid-but-not-amazing food experience. All in all, i will not be going back. But i give it 3 stars based mostly on food.
Comfy, yummy, and also fabulous. From the instant I walked in to the time we left (reluctant to go, but happy and full), I felt welcome. Delighted. Happily surprised.
Granted, as Maria and the Captain said: nothing comes from nothing. This is the kind of restaurant whose staff you'll find in other Yelped establishments on their days off, reading cookbooks. Seriously: cookbooks. This must be why Benjamin and his friends in the kitchen are so good -- the man reads that kind of potboiler in his free time.
But about dinner. If Mark C is right, and and the pork belly is God's Own Appetizer, I would add that the pork chop with rye whiskey sauce is God's Own Entree. The cookies and milk for dessert? God's way of saying, Good girl: nighty-night.
We went on a Monday night, and you know what that means: the most sublime bottle of wine I've had in years was a mere $50.
Everything -- all of our dinners, the appetizers, desserts, and that wine! -- was delicious. I would have paid more, but here's the thing about Maverick: you don't have to. It's all about the great food and tasty wine served at fair prices by lovely people. Other places can make you feel like this is rocket science. Maverick reminds you that it is not.
The only thing that could make Maverick better? A little spot next door named "Goose".
Maverick, ya big stuuuuuud! Take me to dinner or lose me forever!
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I'm not entirely sure how I've avoided this place for so long. I found myself here last night after being confronted with long waits at far inferior restaurants (I felt like budgeting), and the owners were more than accommodating, which was great considering how small the space is and how many people were already there.
Tomatillo bisque, crispy pork belly with peach (aka God's Own Appetizer) started things out so well that I thought the entrees might have too much to live up to, but nope; pork shoulder was outstanding and the steak cooked to perfection (it's served with roasted peppers and onions, which I'm not normally a fan of). And the service was impeccable. He was there whenever I needed him and wasn't when I didn't. I am definitely coming back.
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i feel bad giving this place a bad review, because for most intents and purposes it's good. but sometimes, you need a greasy spot for brunch and this just isn't it. it's fancy and precious and at 11am after a late night, you dont need your huevos rancheros on a big fancy plate or a $12 cocktail. just sayin'.
Maverick -- an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party.
Maverick definitely does things their own way. Unfortunately, their way kind of sucks. I came for dinner and instantly I was struck by how pretentious this place is. On the appetizer menu there was antelope tartar. Honestly, why is this necessary? The only reason it's there is so that people can feel highbrow while they're eating it.
Another example is the Kobe beef that was listed on the menu that night. It was a flank steak which again makes me wonder, what's the point? Why use a sub-par cut of Kobe beef when you could use a better non-Kobe cut for the same price?
Over the course of the meal I tried the Kobe beef (it was tough and drenched in sauce), the porkchop (again, tough and drenched) and a few other items that escape me. Nothing was substantially tasty.
Maverick is a poser. Their menu is full of pricey, important-sounding dishes that will make you feel like a foodie for ordering them. However, once you scratch away the shiny surface you'll find some pretty average food underneath.
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Still on a high from this past Tuesday's dinner, Maverick is currently serving as the dark, masculine, sophisticated and cool proxy for the male with the same qualities that I've been searching for. And just because I call the restaurant "masculine", that's not to say it's a restaurant for men - to the contrary! If I was a guy, I would love a girl that would want to dine at a place like this. Think upscale comfort food with a heavy emphasis on meat: steak/lamb, fried chicken, pork belly, mac n cheese, grits, etc.
Until Maverick's Southern Fried Night on Aug 19th I had only been for brunch... multiple times. And I will keep on coming as long as the duck confit hash ($14) is on the menu... it's very unlikely I try the same restaurant let alone the same dish more than once! That's how good this is... if you like duck confit, mushrooms, crispy potatoes and rich cream sauce you will love this.. and even if you don't, you will love this. And to round out the hash, add an order of doughnut holes ($5) and a blackberry mimosa ($8)... on a sunny weekend in the mission it doesn't get much better.
Back to dinner...
After Southern Fried Night on Aug 19th I could no longer let the guilt keep building by not writing a rave review of this restaurant that I've enjoyed so many times. For Southern Fried Night, offered once a year, Maverick offers a unique selection of Southern food... this year, the Fried Alligator Tenders ($11), Fried Texas Red Fish ($25) and Fried Rabbit ($28) were all so good we stared at each other giggling in anticipation of the others' reaction when we switched dishes (and for those less inclined there were plenty of equally attractive non-fried options). For dessert, we had the Chocolate Pecan Pie ($7) with a scoop of Bi-Rite Brown Butter Ice Cream... for those who eat pie for the crust, like me, it was buttery, flakey and double thick! and the filling and ice cream were just as amazing.
I won't elaborate too much on the dishes as they aren't offered on the regular menu, but I would just like to point out that everything was meticulously prepared, unique, flavorful and fantastic, we had a wonderful time as usual and I can't wait to go back and try the regular dinner menu.
Ok, so I was going to talk about the difference between brunch and dinner - and had it all planned that I would say brunch is more like 4 stars but because dinenr deserved a solid 5, it bumped it up to 5 regardless.
Then I saw some other Dana just totally said the same thing. This is amazing.
This is a great gem in my neighborhood (seriously, who would believe it, with all my crackhead buddies and such) with yummy food and cute waiters.
Sunday brunch has fruit blended mimosas and the greatest macaroni and cheese I have ever had. For dinner, the wine serving is all pomp and quite entertaining, especially if you JUST WANT TO DRINK THE GODDAMNED WINE ALREADY! Except I never feel like this, as I enjoyed the show of sniffing, pouring, swishing,dumping into a shot glass and re-pouring a taste. Ok, it was a cute gesture, but I did want to drink the wine....like right now....
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Wagyu Beef Cheese Steak.
Sounds good, right? The reality: not so much.
I'll be sticking with southern specialties on future visits to Maverick.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/04/2006
Came here for lunch yesterday - we both started with the bell pepper and potato soup. My dining… Read more »
I had brunch here with Miss SF Yelp several weeks ago, and we were both surprised that the tiny restaurant wasn't busier than it was. No matter though, service was attentive and food came out quick!
We started off with some housemade Washington blackberry mimosas, which was incredible. I almost can't go back to having classic orange mimosas now!
We looked around us to see what people were having, and everything looked amazing. We both decided to try hearty sounding dishes. We had the Duck Confit Hash and Andouille Sausage Benedict. They were both delicious, although the intense flavors were almost too much that I couldn't finish my portion. If I had room, I would have wanted to balance the savory with the sweet, and also got cinnamon and sugar covered donut holes. Now that's a decadent way to start off the day!
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We came here for brunch after our delicious pedicures. While we waited for the rest of our party we sat outside and enjoyed the delectable Washington blackberry mimosas. We were lucky, yet disappointed because they were the last 3 they had enough juice for. Now, I have been on a bit of an alcohol "vacation" but I couldn't resist. It was a day of splurging so splurge away I did!
Inside was very small and intimate and not as busy as I had expected for an early Saturday afternoon. We started out with the Maverick doughnut holes, which were sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar goodness. OMG, were they tasty balls!
Because I was still feeling breakfast-y, I went with the Maverick Brunch Sandwich. It came with Fried egg, Nueske bacon, cheddar cheese, Youk's Hot Sauce (they make it there!), ketchup, butter lettuce, sliced tomato on a Acme Torpedo Roll and home fries.
I had my eggs substituted for over easy and the extra yolk helped make the sandwich (in my opinion!). I couldn't finish it, even though I tried VERY hard. I left so stuffed it hurt. It took me hours before I felt like I could breathe normal again!
Some of the other plates we had were the Pecan Crusted French Toast, the Andouille Sausage "Benedict" and the Texan Migas. Everyone was extremely happy with their choices and either cleaned their plates or stuffed themselves silly trying! We also tried the Strawberry and Peach Mimosa's, however the Blackberry still ranked #1!
"This is Maverick requesting a flyby" ...I will be back!
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Just went here with another couple for brunch, and loved it. Friendly staff, good unique food. We started with the doughnut balls with cinnamon and sugar (how do they acheive making doughnuts feel sophisticated?). The waitress was very patient and helpful while my friend tried to figure out how to get what she was craving yet stay vegetarian. All good.
Eugy and I came here for dinner one really nice Thursday late afternoon. I've been hearing that this place makes a good fried chicken. Um, need I say more? Ok. Ok. You want to know what we ate? Other than the fried chicken? Ok. Fiiiiiiiine.
We did want to start off with a few appetizers, but we saw so many entrees that sounded so delicious, we skipped the appetizers and ordered 3 entrees:
Slow Roasted Sonoma Duck Leg - Grilled escarole and yellow donut peaches, spiced walnuts, sherry vinaigrette, duck reduction sauce - - - Yo, duck reduction sauce is heavenly. Escarole grilled to perfection. Everything about this dish was amazing. And the duck, JUICY.
Grilled Long Ranch Pork Loin - Fennel pork sausage, black eyed peas, sweet corn niblets, red and savoyed cabbage slaw, sweet pork jus - - - the slaw, corn, peas and sausage worked so well together. I was a bit hesitant to order this because of all those things thrown together, but it was quite delicious. The pork loin was tender, cooked medium and very JUICY.
And for the dish I know you've all been waiting to read about:
Southern Fried Chicken - Buttermilk soaked Rocky Jr. free range chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, roasted okra and green beans, brown chicken gravy - - - Hmm... I don't really think this is Southern Fried Chicken at all. The seasonings weren't very "southern", but I didn't give a DAMN! That chicken was finger licking good. The skin was crunchy and perfectly fried. The side dishes matched really well. But most of all, the chicken was JUICY!
We had mac & cheese on the side. It wasn't the best mac & cheese I've had, but it was damn good.
The service was great. Our waitress was really knowledgeable and nice. The whole experience was fantastic. I can't wait to go back. This is my kinda place.
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despite paying $60 pp in a party of five, this place was fantastic. great service, food, service, atmosphere, and well, service. i don't need a server coming over the very moment i load my pie hole with food to ask, "how is everything?!" the servers must know the food is the shit since they don't ask the "denny's question".
my water glass was never empty and they were always buzzing about and intuitively knew what we needed. believe me, when i need something, i'll get your attention as long as you're not back in the kitchen chatting up the cooks or the other servers. capiche?
thanks everyone...and don't forget to tip your servers.
Two words ladies and gentlemen: FRIED CHICKEN. (Ha! When the chefs recognize me in the doorway they immediately get my order fired up!) Best kept secret: you can order their gourmet fried chicken at brunch too. I know you might be thinking KFC? But think not! Everything about the food here is gourmet American cuisine - something I didn't even know existed before eating here. The atmosphere is welcoming as is the staff. It's amazing that such an exceptional restaurant stays so humble and sincere.
A small dining spot that's as equally perfect for a romantic dinner for two as it is for a gossip session over brunch. This is one of San Francisco's truly wonderful restaurants that I will continue to find occasion to go to.
Wonderful!
The host was amazing. He came and told us the whole story on a bottle of wine. I recommend you order any bottle of wine because the host/waiter will be able to tell you it's history, origins, even the attitude of the maker. The host also did this whole show of freshening the wine glasses with just a little bit of wine before pouring the wine into the glass. I was very confused but at the same time entertained.
I had the bass (still trying to eat healthy) and it was great. Usually you can't really change the taste of fish unless you drown it in a sauce. However, Maverick grilled it in a lettuce left, which added a grilled/charcoal flavor without actually burning or marking the fish. I loved it.
For desert (screw eating healthy) we shared a bread pudding with raspberry gelato. YUM!
The setting was small but very cute. The small setting made dinner feel a little more special. The wait staff was kind, helpful, and knowledgeable.
A little price, but worth it.
I wish it was placed in Noe Valley. It seems like such a cute Noe Valley restaurant. Too bad it is in the Mission and the neighborhood is a little eh. But good on the owner for trying to add something nice and classy to the Mission district. At least it is close to Bart.
Three of us went here on Monday. Nice thing on those nights is that all full bottles of wine are 40% off. Good opportunity to try a more expensive bottle which you'd normally steer clear of. The waiter (who seemed as knowledgeable as a sommelier) was quite helpful.
We each had an appetizer. I can only speak for the oysters, which were flavorful. Two of got the fried chicken. Don't know what it is about that. Neither of us would normally eat such a thing. The menu must have sent out crazy invisible radio waves convincing to get it. I dunno. The other person in our party got the lamb. All of us were really happy with the meal (though the lamb person said that it seemed more like a steak than a piece of lamb). The chicken was very juicy and flavorful, and the sauce that it was in was delicious. The mashed sweet potato was great, too. Presentation was very nice.
Attentive staff.
The place is small. I'd say that reservations are a very good idea. We sat at the long table with bench seating near the kitchen and front door. It was pleasant and our location may have kept the noise to a minimum. The restaurant as a whole didn't seem to be too noisy, though.
Our bill for three was a little over two-hundred, even with the discounted wine. I'd go back, though. The cost was worth it. Good food, good times, nice place.
I've walked by this place several times while ravenously hungry but on the way to somewhere else. I was planning to eat at already infamously good Bar Tartine down the street, but my well-informed date informed me that there was no way in hell we were gonna get dinner there without a reservation at least a day or two in advance - even on a Wednesday. So next on the list was Maverick, which apparently has been acclaimed by locals since it's opening - so I was excited to try it out.
We had plans to watch a movie before we got seated and we informed our host of our plans. They were graciously accomodating, seating us quickly and checking in with us periodically as to our schedule.
First, a bit about the ambience. It's a small place, yet it didn't feel cramped. Something about it seemed a bit worn and tired, yet it was also hip and upscale gritty - like a old punk rocker in an Armani suit... probably adding to it's growing appeal to SF yokels who thrive on finding that sparkling culinary gem somewhere in the dirty ass crack of the Mission. Dark greens, earthy browns, and yellow tones made it cozy - but not exactly warm.
I've yet to try this place for lunch or breakfast - but I believe that will happen sometime soon.
We started off with the mussels, cooked in white wine, with a smoky pancetta and rich aioli. I have to say that the mussels were damn good. Unique, and signature - Maverick stood out in my mind with them. Usually I prefer mussels to be cooked in a plentiful buttery wine infused rich broth - but these were served without the broth - the pancetta and a rich aioli lingered in your mouth, like you were deep kissed by a bacon-based cigar-smoking mayonaise-swilling hedonistic pleasure-seeking lifeform of the sea. Salty. Bold. Mmmm.
The grilled asparagus was quite good, but somehow paled in comparison to the grilled asparagus I had tried a couple weeks earlier at another restaurant.
Next on the list was the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Both the subject and reality of fried chicken consumption is something that I have generally at this point in my life left mostly to memories of teenage visits to KFC, but from time to time I feel inspired to partake - usually late at night at some all night diner after drinking more than I needed to. The fried chicken at Maverick was good fried chicken - but it was still fried chicken, and was nothing to go ga-ga nuts over. Can someone tell me where the best fried chicken is? I've heard that the gas station on South Van Ness & 15th somehow makes addictive fried chicken. WTF? It's probably sprinkled with a combo of meth and pheromones. The Front Porch has pretty good fried chicken too. I still need to get my ass over to that place in the Fillmore....
My date ordered the steak - with the green garlic pesto that was phenomenally tasty. They also have a respectably good wine list. Overall, I'd say that it's not on my short list for a repeat, not sure why exactly - maybe it's that there's so much competition for my foodie attention in this neighborhood. The big idea here is that I'll definitely keep it in mind next time I'm hungry and in the neighborhood.
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So good that I was convinced someone had slipped me a Mickey by way of green bean injection.
We were early and they don't have a bar or a waiting area. The very nice host suggested a bar down the street named Blondie. We went. Had "one" (their drinks come with bonus drinks) martini and were quite buzzed when we arrived back to Maverick at our reservation time.
My date informed the host that it was my birthday and thanked him for the recommendation to go to Blondie's and then told the host that we were smashed. (Maybe HE was smashed- I'm IRISH!) The host said, "Oh no, I hope that doesn't discourage you from having wine with dinner. Wine is 40% off all bottles on Monday nights." WHAT?! 40% off?!!! JACKPOT!
Our extremely friendly and professional waiter came and we ordered a bottle of wine for one dollar more than what it would have cost us to have two glasses. How cool is that?
I'm from the south so I love southern food. We had baked oysters as our starter. They were scrumptious. However, I wish there would have been four instead of three. We were only two people so I greedily took the third since it was my birthday. For my meal I had the fried chicken with green beans, okra, and mashed potatoes. My date had the pork chops. I think his came with spinach, but I'm not sure. I was too consumed with my own food. We split a side order of mac and cheese.
As we took our first bites, we both looked at each other and proclaimed it was the best meal we had eaten in years. Possibly ever. I made him try one of my green beans. They were the best green beans I've ever had. How do you make someone fall in love with green beans?! They're beans! But they were like eating nature dipped in sin and cooked at the temperature of Eden's most heavenly day. My fried chicken was succulent, moist, and tender. Although I'm in love with battered okra, their unbattered okra was tasty and fresh. The mashed potatoes were really just something good to mix the gravy with and helped give the meal the right squish factor.
We had some sort of apple crisp thing for dessert. Very good, but I was drunk at that point so I can't recall much on that part.
I would definitely go there for a nice, quiet, celebratory evening. Weird location, but worth the jog over.
So M., my best friend from college, visited me last week after staying at the scenic Asilomar retreat in Monterey for some science thing. Yeah, he's one of those science geeks. You know the type: they talk about inseminating fruit flies with Trix and how eugenics is like Jenga -- don't ask me, I'm an idiot and I sucked at lab science, proud Humanities Japo here and would you like a Doubleshot in your Frappucino? Also, he still lives in NYC so he's a major diva and raving bitch with discriminating taste PLUS he's Italian so OF COURSE if you fuck with him he'll rip out your heart and eat it in front of you or some shit like that. Basically, he's a more intense Italian version of me, if it's even possible to be MORE intense -- or more Italian for that matter. I've admittedly gone soft after living on the West Coast for so long, surrounded as I am by serial abusers of Xanax.
So pace the typical awkward socially stunted science geek, M. is a fount of verbiage. He can also be something of an asshole. Like back in the day when I dated this Romanian guy for a little while, he'd always ask "how your little Ceaucescu?" See? Asshole.
He may be chock full of invective, but he's a smooth talker with an irrepressibly tasteless sense of humor, something I yearn for these days since I think the humor here on the West Coast SUCKS (excepting certain yelpers, of course). Chalk up another win for the fucking PC police.
Anyway, he really wanted something "meaty" for dinner. After considering -- then discarding -- some stodgy steakhouse where men in suits cigar-bang their trophy wives under the table, we wisely opted for the warm, intimate atmosphere and solid cuisine of Maverick.
The setting -- an intimate space with brick colored walls and various lightboxed maps of America -- was the ideal setting for our bitchfest. We talked about the appetite gene for mosquitos. About the runaway gentrification of NYC. How Bloomberg is a womanizing pig. How we HATE people who take up the entire sidewalk, then stop to have a conversation (Look bitches, we're in a fucking city not a country club, MOVE LIKE IT!). And how Park Slope is so PLAYED OUT -- now he's more of an Upper West Side guy, which basically means he's shopping at Zabar's every day and turning Jewish, and if you ask me that's a mecheieh and a mitzvah, nu?
In addition, Maverick's compelling "New American" comfort food was perfectly executed. His Pickled Plum Salad? Marvelously light and refreshing, and a proper palate cleanser for his rich Sonoma County Duck Leg. Because I yearn to collapse of heart failure in the near future, I indulged by ordering the Mac n' Cheese and Southern Fried Chicken. The Mac n' Cheese was liquid lactose heaven, smooth and devoid of any grainy texture. And I reveled in the fried chicken: it was wonderfully crisp, dense like an artery clogged with buttermilk, and at rest in a pool of buttery grits and thick brown gravy. I think the food here is an unparalleled American success, and not in the "Mission Accomplished" way, but in the legit Drop The A-bomb VJ Day Bitches! way (oh and fuck you, Harry Truman).
And speaking of American successes, let's face it: nothing BUT NOTHING screams American Success Story more than the acculturated offspring of lower class, initially disenfranchised immigrants like us who maintain contact with our heritages by mercilessly ridiculing them. RIGHT?!? I mean, c'mon, that's the fucking American Dream right there! VIVA LA NUEVA AMERICA!!
What?
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i get dizzy and giddy school-girl crushy for Maverick
his menu is always super tasty, clever, and will turn you on without overpowering you (unless you are into that kinda thing, in which case see the wines)
sexy sexy wines - you know those guys, the unique ones with big brains and a rebellious smiles? this is where they hang
and M really knows how to give it to you good in the morning - brunch flat out makes you believe he loves you...or at least thinks you are SO HOT
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Leave it to a restaurant with a name like Maverick to go off on its lonesome ownsome and blaze a new trail into the mac and cheese beyond. Their bechamel mac and cheese is without a doubt the BEST I have ever had. Seriously, I used the remaining bread to sop the bechamel sauce clean off the dish. Their fried chicken, while not "Ad Hoc good," was still undeniably finger lickin', and easily trumps the fried chicken at Farmer Brown, Front Porch, Hard Knox, Angeline's (you get the idea) . And the orange walls against organic wood accents are as easy on the eyes as their food is on the stomach. Ahh.
I had brunch here recently, and that was equally fantastic. The buttermilk cinnamon-sugar donut holes were perfectly delicious: freshly made so they were warm, dense with a hard outer shell and sweetly coated. mmmm! The cheesy grits were good, too. And the service was friendly and attentive. They even let us bring in our own birthday cupcakes. Minor gripe: they tried to clear our plates multiple times while we were still working on our food. Though no brunch resies obviously means that they have to keep the crowds moving. I hear ya.
This place is still right up there in my book. Certainly far from a flash-in-the-fried-chicken-pan.
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I'd never heard of this place, until two friends of mine made reservations for after a play. So they, Boy and I danced our way from The Blob at The Dark Room over to the restaurant.
We were seated immediately, the server was attentive and fun, knew her stuff, and made it an enjoyable experience.
Dinner was wonderful, we split entrees as well as appetizers, and a bottle of wine.
My only real issues were that it was pricey, (and that was taken care of because I luckily wasn't paying for dinner.) and that they didn't have a full bar. I feel like some of the food could have paired much better with a cocktail than wine.
A hidden nook in the mission. Not 5 stars, but definitely a cool restaurant. I had the green tomato soup and halibut. Both very good.
Friday night and my Hottie Blade and I are going to the theatre. What could be more fun than going out to dinner and then see a play. We decided to try Maverick on 17th Street and it totally lived up to the great reviews we read. I'll join the Chorus Line of people who say that Maverick is worth a try.
Maverick gets 40 of 50 Fussy Fusspot Points... and 4 stars.
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Clean table and dishes? 5 of 5 points. Table, dishes, silverware, napkins, glasses and even the menus were all very clean. Good show!
Clean server? 5 of 5 points. Pristinely clean.
Clean bathroom? 5 of 5 points. Clean and stylish too!
Subtotal = 15 of 15 Fussy Points on the Clean Scale.
Service? 5 of 5 points. Very attentive service. Our Server was Heather and she was great - lots of information about the menu and ingredients. I saw her swirling a bit of wine in each of the glasses at the table next to us so asked her about it and she taught us about "priming the wine glass". She was great.
Ambiance? 4 of 5 points.
Friends from Finland Practical Scale? 3 of 5 points. Very convenient to BART and the Mission Street Bus. The tables are small and close together so not too convenient for anyone in a wheel chair.
Food? 7 of 10 points. We especially enjoyed the Fried Green Tomatoes. I had the Fried Chicken dinner. It was delicious and the chicken skin was sooooo crispy! If you love fried chicken with very crispy skin then you gotta try Maverick.
Price/Food ratio? 3 of 5 points. Two appetizers, two main courses, a side of veggies, one glass of wine and one iced tea for $100.
Now I know what you all are thinking... you're thinking "What! No cocktails? What was wrong with Fussy and Blade? You guys always have cocktails!" Well, we were going to the theatre so didn't want to be drowsy before the show. And besides, Maverick has a great wine selection but doesn't have a full bar.
Bonus? 3 of 5 points. 1 bonus point for the coat hooks under each table. So convenient! So practical! 1 bonus point for the very cool comic books and puzzle from the old Maverick TV show framed and hanging in the bathroom. (Which of Maverick brothers was sexier? Bart or Bret?) And 1 bonus point for how well they treated my Hottie Blade while he was waiting for me to arrive.
Total: 40 Fussy Fusspot Points.
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I am drooling still from brunch here a few weeks ago. Strawberry mimosa? check. Homemade donuts? check. Duck confit and mushroom hash? mother-effing check!
DUCK CONFIT FOR BREAKFAST IS AWESOME!
a bit pricey, but oh jeez, soooo good.
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This is a lovely spot! My friend and I came here spontaneous-like after two false starts at rnm and Beretta. There was one table left in the pocket-size Maverick and it was clearly just for us.
The meal was fantastic, the service was great. I was craving a martini and was a little disappointed by their lack of a full bar (but really, where the hell would they put it?) but their wine list was full of wonderful stuff and gin was swiftly forgotten. The service was wonderful. I did have my doubts about the cheese plate--as it only offered one kind of cheese. But Sir Francis Drake from Cowgirl Creamery carries its own, and the honey, spiced pecans, grilled bread, and that perfect pear were wonderful accompaniments.
All in all, an excellent experience. I will look forward to going back.
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How to Seduce Your Date:
1) Take date to Maverick's for dinner on a Monday night.
2) Take advantage of the ***40% off full and half bottles of wine.***
3) Order the Fried Chicken (it's an aphrodisiac!).
4) Go to Bi-Rite Creamery for dessert.
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02/11/2007
It used to be that when I heard the word "Maverick," I'd picture Tom Cruise. (cue Top Gun theme… Read more »
